A prototype for ovulation detection: pros and cons.

A noninstrumented enzyme immunoassay for urinary estrone conjugates was adapted from an instrumented microtiter plate enzyme immunoassay assay. The end point of the assay was a color change from green to clear, which was visible to the unaided eye. The visible color change was adjusted to allow 80 ng/ml estrone conjugates (on the basis of a sample size of 6.

The incidence and distribution of oral lesions in patients with Darier's disease.

Darier's disease is an uncommon autosomal dominant genodermatosis that may be accompanied by oral lesions. The incidence and distribution of oral manifestations was studied in 24 patients with cutaneous Darier's disease. Oral lesions comprising whitish papules of varying severity were present in 12 patients, with the palate being the most common site affected, followed by gingiva, buccal mucosa and tongue.

Cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutans V403 glucosyltransferase and fructosyltransferase mutants constructed by allelic exchange.

Streptococcus mutans produces several enzymes which metabolize sucrose. Three glucosyltransferase genes (gtfB, gtfC, and gtfD) and a single fructosyltransferase gene (ftf) encode enzymes which are important in formation of exopolysaccharides. Mutants of S.

Relationship of serum estradiol and progesterone concentrations to the excretion profiles of their major urinary metabolites as measured by enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay.

Paired daily blood and urine samples were collected from 10 apparently healthy premenopausal women to compare the hormone profiles of estradiol (E2) and progesterone in serum with those of estrone conjugates (E1Conj) and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG) in urine. Serum hormones were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) kits, whereas the urinary steroid metabolites were assessed by both RIA and enzyme immunoassay (EIA). RIA and EIA values for urinary E1Conj and PdG were not different, and both methods produced urinary profiles that paralleled the profile of the parent steroid in serum.

Cardiac pacemaking in Hong Kong: report of a survey of general practitioners and internists.

A questionnaire study was carried out among cardiologists, internists, general practitioners, and final year medical students in Hong Kong concerning cardiac pacemaking. The response rate was 11.2%.

Joint moment and muscle power output characteristics of below knee amputees during running: the influence of energy storing prosthetic feet.

Stance phase joint moments, muscle power outputs and mechanical energy characteristics were determined in five normal and five below knee amputee subjects running at 2.8 m s-1. The amputees were studied sequentially on three different prosthetic feet: the SACH foot (solid ankle cushion heel), and two energy storing feet, Seattle and Flex.

Cyclosporin A in atopic dermatitis: therapeutic response is dissociated from effects on allergic reactions.

Fourteen patients with severe chronic atopic dermatitis were treated with cyclosporin A (CyA, Sandimmun; 5 mg/kg/day) for 7-16 weeks. All showed a marked clinical improvement and half could omit topical corticosteroid treatment during therapy. Adverse effects were minor, but two patients relapsed despite continued treatment.

[Cyclosporin A in atopic dermatitis: therapeutic effect and effect on allergic reactions are dissociated from each other].

Fourteen patients with severe chronic atopic dermatitis were treated with cyclosporin A (CyA, Sandimmun; 5 mg/kg/day) for 7-16 weeks. All showed a marked clinical improvement and half could omit topical corticosteroid treatment during therapy. Adverse effects were minor, but two patients relapsed despite continued treatment.

An oestrogen conjugate enzyme immunoassay for monitoring pregnancy in the mare: limitations of the assay between days 40 and 70 of gestation.

A direct enzyme immunoassay was developed to measure conjugated oestrogens in the plasma of pregnant mares. The antibody was produced in rabbits using oestrone-3-glucuronide (E1G) conjugated to bovine serum albumin. The enzyme conjugate was E1G conjugated to horseradish peroxidase.

A study of the correlation between serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in Chinese.

Serum total cholesterol and lipoprotein analysis was performed on the same blood samples of 139 asymptomatic Chinese subjects aged 40-60 years. There was a highly significant correlation between serum total cholesterol and low density lipoproteins (correlation coefficient = 0.8376, p less than 0.

Evening primrose oil and treatment of premenstrual syndrome.

The therapeutic effectiveness of evening primrose oil (Efamol, Vita-Glow) in the relief of 10 symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as well as menstrual symptoms was studied in 38 women. The prospective trial was randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled and was crossed-over after three cycles. Although the results showed an improvement in symptoms of PMS during the trial, no significant differences in the scoring between the active and placebo groups were found over six cycles.

The relationship of serum estradiol and progesterone concentrations to the enzyme immunoassay measurements of urinary estrone conjugates and immunoreactive pregnanediol-3-glucuronide in Macaca mulatta.

Paired urine and serum samples from four conceptive and six nonconceptive ovarian cycles of seven adult Macaca mullatta were analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) for circulating estradiol (E) and progesterone (Po), and urinary estrone conjugates (EC) and immunoreactive preganediol-3-glucuronide (iPDG) using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Nonconceptive cycles exhibited a fivefold increase in urinary EC and serum E levels from follicular phase levels to the preovulatory peak. Linear correlation between urinary EC and serum E nonconceptive cycle hormone levels was significant (P <0.

Symptomatic zinc deficiency in breast-fed premature infants.

We report two breast-fed premature infants who developed transient symptomatic zinc deficiency with scaly erythema of cheeks and napkin area, 9-13 weeks after birth. Serum zinc concentrations were 3.6 and 4.

Blistering, erosions and scarring in a patient on etretinate.

A case is reported of a patient who developed blistering of the skin followed by ulceration and scarring while on treatment with etretinate.

Relapse rates in moderately severe chronic psoriasis treated with cyclosporin A.

Seventeen patients with chronic psoriasis were given cyclosporin A (CsA) 5 mg/kg per day. Twelve patients cleared within 3 months and their relapse rate, 41% at 6 months, was not significantly different from that previously reported with dithranol or PUVA. This pilot study also suggests that continuing CsA for up to 4 weeks after clinical clearance confers no advantage with regard to relapse.

Opsonic activity of a new intravenous immunoglobulin preparation: Pentaglobin compared with sandoglobulin.

Standard preparations of immunoglobulin for intravenous use consist predominantly of IgG (greater than 95%). We have compared the ability of a standard preparation (Sandoglobulin) with that of a new preparation (Pentaglobin, containing 12% IgM and 12% IgA) to improve the opsonic activity of antibody-deficient human sera in vitro. Panhypogammaglobulinaemic sera were poorly opsonic for five of six organisms tested, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pneumoniae, but opsonized Staphylococcus aureus almost normally.